Penile Implants

Several types of penile implants and prostheses have been evaluated in the MR environment. Of these, two (i.e., the Duraphase and Omniphase models) demonstrated substantial ferromagnetic qualities when exposed to a 1.5-Tesla MR system.

Fortunately, it is unlikely for a penile implant to severely injure a patient undergoing an MR procedure because of the degree of magnetic field interactions associated with a 1.5-Tesla MR system. This is especially true when one considers the manner in which this device is utilized.

Nevertheless, it would undoubtedly be uncomfortable for a patient with a ferromagnetic penile implant to undergo an MR examination. For this reason, subjecting a patient with the Duraphase or Omniphase penile implant to the MR environment or an MR procedure may be inadvisable.

MRI Information at 3-Tesla and Penile Implants.
Several different penile implants have been tested in association with 3-Tesla MR systems. Findings for these specific penile implants indicated that they either exhibited no magnetic field interactions or relatively minor or "weak" magnetic field interactions. Accordingly, these specific penile implants are considered acceptable for patients undergoing MR procedures using MR systems operating at 3-Tesla or less (see The List).

REFERENCES

Shellock FG. Magnetic Resonance Procedures: Health Effects and Safety. CRC Press, LLC, Boca Raton, FL, 2001.

Shellock FG, Crues JV, Sacks SA. High-field magnetic resonance imaging of penile prostheses: in vitro evaluation of deflection forces and imaging artifacts [Abstract]. In: Book of Abstracts, Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Berkeley, CA: Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 1987;3:915.

Shellock FG, Kanal E. Magnetic Resonance: Bioeffects, Safety, and Patient Management. Second Edition, Lippincott-Raven Press, New York, 1996.